Platform-step for railway-cars



(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 1.

J. J. STEVER.

PLATFORM STEP FOR RAILWAY CARS. No. 375,218. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

WITNESSES INVENTOH ATTORNEYS N PUERS Flwloiillwgraphen Washington DC (No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. J. STEVER.

PLATFORM STEP FOR-RAILWAY CARS;

No. 375,218. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

WITNESSES A TTORNE Y3 N. PETERS. Phflkn-Lilhugmpher. Washington, D, Q

UNITED "ST TES I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. STEVER, OF'OWOSSO, MICHIGAN.

PLATFORM-STEP FOl? RAILWAY-CARS.

$PIElCIPICA'1'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,218, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed February 12, 1887. Serial 170.227.1393. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. STEVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Platform-Steps for Railway- Gars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a set or series of steps which are ordinarily attached to and form a part oi: the platforms of railway-cars; and it consists in suspending',by means of suitable levers and operating mechanism, a supplementary or auxiliary step immediately beneath the regular steps, and in such a manner that by means of the levers and operating mechanism the said step or steps can be lowered and adjusted to any desired position, according to the relative height of the ground or station and the platform of the car.

The object, therefore, of my invention is to provide a step which shall be easily operated from the platform of the car and without inconvenience to the operator, and which shall allow of the easy stepping off of children and old people when the platform at the station is not in a convenient position for the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represent an end elevation of a car-platform with my improved step attached, and showing the interior arrangement of the mechanism which works it in dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents the outside of a car, showing the exterior arrangement of a modified construction for operating the step,'and it also shows the step in its normal position. Fig. 3 represents the same view, excepting that the supplementary step is in its lower position. Fig. 4 shows a front view of the steps and the operating mechanism from the outside, as represented in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A represents a lever, which is attached to the cog-wheel mechanism M M, for the purpose of operating the step P. This lever A is provided with a spring, B, near the middle, and a little farther on toward the lower end of said lever is asmall hinge, O, on which the stop-bar D is fulcrumed, soas to cause its lower or stop end to be lifted from the notch G, Fig. 2, when its upper end is depressed, preparatory to the step P being placed'in position, which allows of its being used as a step for alighting from the car. The lever A is attached to a rod, S, by a nut, N, and to this rod H, said rods extending down the whole length.

of the steps on both sides, and are fastened to two pieces of metal, T, which in turn are con nected to the step P.

The movable step has attached on both sides on the bottom a metallic bracket, each bracket being secured also to the lower ends of the rods H. These brackets are provided with openings, through which are passed the lower ends of hinge-links R, whose upper ends are passed through openings in metallic hangers T on the under side of the lower stationary step. At their lower ends these hinges extend across the step P, being formed of one piece of. metal.

E represents a plate, which is fastened to the side of the platform and contains the notches G, that receive the stop-bar D, both when the step P is in its normal and lower position.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, as I may provide two or more steps P, and also make the steps operate without the aid of the operating mechanism M M (the functions of which are to regulate thethrow of the lever A) without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a platform-step for railway-cars, of an auxiliary step hinged to and below the former step, and a lever for operating it through suitable connecting mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. g

2. In a platform-step for railway-cars, the combination of the lever A, the operating mechanism M M, for operating the step P, the nut N, which connects the lever A to the rod S.

' and the projecting bars L,which are connected to the rods H,which extend down on either side of the steps, substantially as and for'the purposes set forth. r

, 3. The combination of the lever A,- provided Witha spring, B, and hinge D, for allowing the step to be put in its normal and lower poare connected with the hinge R, all arranged sition, together with the plate E, which consubstantially as shown and described, and for tains the grooves G, for containing the stopthe purposes set forth.

bar D, the rod S,which is attached to the lever J AMES J. STEVER. 5 A by a nut, N, and is also provided with two \Vitnesses:

projecting bars, L, fastened to the rods H, 1?. J. STEVER,

which extend downward on either side and FRANK E. COOK. 

